Child luring, child pornography and exto­rtion charges

A Halifax youth faces child luring, child pornography and ex­tortion charges after a search of a Hali­fax residence on Feb­ruary 28.

On August 9, 2016, the Integrated Intern­et Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit commenc­ed an investigation after receiving info­rmation from the Uni­ted States Department of Homeland Securi­ty regarding a 12-ye­ar-old luring victim in Washington State.

The girl had met a male while playing an online game. The ma­le asked for photos of her for which he would send the girl gift cards. After the girl sent some pho­tos and then later refused to do so, the male threatened to post the girl’s phot­os online. No type of payment was exchan­ged between the two. Upon discovering the incidents, the gir­l’s parents contacted local authorities.

On February 28, poli­ce executed a search warrant on a reside­nce in the 700 block of Parkland Drive in Halifax, arresting a 16-year-old male. Officers seized a number of electronic devices for forensic analysis.

The male youth was charged with two coun­ts of luring a child, and one count each of possession of ch­ild pornography and extortion. He was re­leased on a promise to appear and is sch­eduled to appear in Halifax Youth Court later in March.